Rick Perry

Rick Perry is the Republican governor of the State of Texas since 2000. He was sworn in as the state's 47th governor on December 21, 2000, and elected to four-year terms in 2002, 2006, and 2010.

Gardasil controversy
On February 2, 2007, Perry "issued an executive order that made Texas the first state to require girls entering the sixth grade to receive the HPV [human papilloma virus] vaccine, beginning in September 2008." The only HPV vaccine at the time was Merck's Gardasil, which had received FDA approval in June 2006.

Some questioned why Perry, a social conservative, would be so eager to mandate a new and controversial vaccine for a sexually-transmitted disease. "One of [Merck]’s three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, Perry’s former chief of staff," reported Associated Press. Perry "also received $6,000 from Merck’s political action committee during his re-election campaign."

Friend of Zion
In June 2007, Perry traveled to Israel courtesy of Global Capital Associates. While in Israel he received the "Friend of Zion" award, and met with Ehud Olmert, the current Israeli PM, and Benjamin Netanyahu, the former PM. As a consequence of his trip to Israel, Perry is seeking to implement a divestment from the Texas state employee pension fund of all companies doing business in Iran and Sudan.

Bio
Rick Perry was "born in West Texas (4 March 1950). He attended Texas A&M University, earning a degree in animal science in 1972. From 1972 to 1977, he served in the U.S. Air Force, flying C-130 tactical airlift aircraft in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. From 1985 to 1990, he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, serving on the Appropriations and Calendars Committees. ... From 1991 to 1998, he served as Texas commissioner of agriculture, successfully streamlining that agency and promoting and expanding markets for the state's agriculture products."

2010 election
In the 2010 GOP primary, Perry beat Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) by 20 points. This win sparked talk of a 2012 presidential run for Perry. The general election was closer with a surprisingly strong challenge from Houston Mayor Bill White (D) with Perry winning with 56.6 percent of the vote.

Contact details
Office of the Governor P.O. Box 12428 Austin, Texas 78711-2428 Phone: 512-463-1782 Fax: 512-463-1849 Web: http://governor.state.tx.us

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Gardasil
 * GOPUSA
 * Merck